Reflections

I always wanted to write a reflections post after graduating from college, but I did not expect it to take so long for me to sit down and actually write it. With that being said and the absence from my blog over the last couple weeks, I don’t do well with transitions. So the transition from a college student to a college grad, to moving back home, to applying for full time jobs and waiting to start my next adventure has been difficult. Lately, there have been more days plagued with lack of motivation and inspiration. These days have been frustrating because I often times find myself staring at a blank computer screen with a mind full of overwhelming thoughts that just leave me puzzled.

Yes, it has only been a little over a week since graduation, but for me a week to long of just feeling blah. Everyone has told me to give myself as much time as I need to regroup and readjust to my new surroundings, but after a week I am sick of just laying on the couch and just waiting for the next bright idea to strike. So today, I decided to return to my old roots of putting on a nice outfit, my favorite eye shadow look of bronzy shades, sit at the dining room table and blast some of my favorite tunes. I am finally ready to reflect on what it means to be a college grad.

To be honest, after graduating from college I still don’t understand the phrase “college is the best four years of your life.” Don’t get me wrong, these last four years have been incredible and I am so thankful for the opportunity to attend such an amazing school and receive a well-rounded education, but I would not describe the last four years as just “best.” The last four years have been fun, demanding, gratifying, confusing, discouraging, and so on. As you can see, I experienced a mix of emotions during my college years. For me, college is the most complicated four years of your life, but I would not trade my experiences, whether good or bad for anything.

It was these past four years, living on a college campus surrounded by different people that allowed me to learn lessons I would not have just learned from a textbook. Sure, my calculus class, philosophy class, communication and journalism courses, all taught me some valuable lessons, but it was those experiences, whether it was accidently sleeping through your alarm, or not knowing who to eat with at the cafeteria, figuring out which friends were actually friends, accepting that you deserve better than that all star athlete of a guy and so on, that built character and made me the strong person I am today.

Before graduating, I heard all my friends say how they would do anything to go back to freshman year, but for me there is only one year I would love to relive if I had the chance and that would be my senior year. It was in my last year of college that I discovered my true friends. It was in my last year of college when there were more days filled with laughter than tears. It was in my last year of college that all the memories that make me smile were made. It was in my last year of college that I finally accepted to let go of what I thought were my “close friends” since sophomore year (that’s a story for a whole different blog post) and see the potential in other people, who I am now thankful and certain to call my friends for life. It was in my last year of college thanks to my amazing family, friends, and professors where I started to love myself and see all the things that made me different, like my creativity, my blog, my sensitivity, my love for fashion as a strength rather than a weakness. Finally, it was in my last year of college that made the last four years totally worth it.

As someone who has always been a planner and would have thought to have the next stage of my life already figured out, I don’t, and that has certainly been hard to accept. But being a college graduate for almost 2 weeks now, I realize that it’s ok to take time to reenergize for the next adventure in my life, whatever that may be. The job-hunting process has been frustrating, but with patience and determination I know that dream job of mine will come. Just like four years ago I was that timid, little freshman not knowing how I was going to make it through college, I somehow managed to get through it, so certainly finding a job and making sense out of the next stage of my life is not too big of a obstacle for me to face.

Although, I currently have the feeling of not being able to capture all my thoughts in a single post, I decided that writing one post that may not say everything is better than writing no post that says nothing. I mean I was in college for four years, which means I won’t be able to speak about everything, but that’s the beauty of blogging I can always upload more posts when I am ready. And let me tell you, the last four years has certainly been a roller coaster of ups and downs and twists and turns, so I am ready to share my story, advice, and tips, so is there anything specific you would like to know about my college experience? If so, let me know in the comments below. I might not have everything figured out right now, but I am certain about one thing…that LivForStyle is back.

Comments

I so agree with you! I have no desire to go back to freshman year of college. There were a few smaller choices I wish i could redo, but otherwise, I appreciate my college days, loved where I attended school, but don’t necessarily want to relive them or go back. I miss my friends, but I am glad I am a graduate.

Congratulations on graduating! I know how it feels to graduate and now know which direction to take, you have high expectations on what your life should be afterwards but you feel stuck for not having an actual plan. My advise is to make small goals, if you have chores or errands make a list of them and cross them while you get them done. It will make you feel much more productive and motivated, even if its something small like picking up clothes at the dry cleaners, or framing that cool print you bought some time ago. Hope this helps!